January 2014 | S.R.A.C. 403-827-7520
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S.R.A.C
Stroking To Recovery
January 2014 Newsletter
Well, it’s a New Year again and SRAC will turn 35 this
coming June. There must have been many different
scribes doing this job over those years but right now
it’s me. I will tell you what I know of our Volunteer
organization during those past 35 years over the time
between now and our celebrating it in June of this
year. It was started by a stroke survivor and her
husband in April of 1977. Their names are Frank and
Louise Nieboer. When Louise was involved in
rehabilitation at the old General Hospital and talking
to other stroke survivors, they found there were really
no support groups available for stroke survivors when
they were finally released from hospital. So Frank and
Louise decided to ask some of the other survivors if
they would meet for coffee and a chat, at first in
coffee shops then in different survivor’s residences.
This was the beginning of the volunteer organization
we are all members of now.
Member profiles compiled by Ms. Deb Dukes
We had our insight into Deb’s profiling starting with
herself and your President Vicky Jones.
This is what was spoken by Deb.
We are honored to have as our Stroke Recovery
President the fascinating Vicky Jones. Her nickname
was Tricky Vicky (the reason why is for you to find
out). Vicky was born in Vulcan Alberta to a family of
five children. Three of her siblings have since passed
on but we are still able to enjoy her kind, caring wit
and knowledge. Other than Jim, her chosen close
friend, who fits into many categories on this page, she
only admits to playing the piano and painting
ceramics. She travelled to Hawaii and Las Vegas as a
young woman and made many trips to Toronto and
Montreal on business. Her chosen career started out
as a cheque typist and she worked her way through
the ranks to senior management in the Insurance
business, Like most of us Vicky would like more time
in a day and her main goal is to walk again using only
a cane. Vicky was very athletic as a young woman
playing baseball, basketball, raquet ball and bowling.
On January 8, 2003 Vicky suffered a brain aneurysm
and following brain surgery, she suffered a massive
stroke followed 4 months later by a 2nd bad stroke.
Thus began a new phase in her life. She had to move,
learn to live alone and her children and
granddaughter who had been living with her had to
go on their own. Vicky has two children and two
grandchildren. Her favorite colors are pink and purple
and her favorite season is Autumn. Vicky has lived all
over Alberta from Vulcan and Lethbridge to Grand
Prairie and Leduc, plus a few others. She takes
particular pride in her new career and the work
involved with the Stroke Recovery Association, having
been on the board for the past 8 years. I hope we all
appreciate the time and talent Vicky has brought to
our time here.
January meetings are as follows:
SRAC South will meet for lunch and chat on January
the 8th at 11:30 AM at the Carriage House Inn on 90th
Ave SE. Our luncheon in December was hampered by
a very bad snow and wind storm so only had 12 who
braved the storm. As usual a great time was had by
all. Unfortunately the Nelsons’ were unable to attend
due to another important meeting. They were missed
as we were hoping to hear of Ruth’s trip to “The Holy
Land”. I guess we will have that pleasure at a future
time.
The lunch meeting of SRAC North will be on Thursday,
January 9th at 11:30 AM at the 264 Legion located on
Kensington Road NW. At the December meeting even
though the weather was far from normal, we had
quite a good turnout of 16 and it was on this day that
Deb Dukes offered her first rendition of her new
member profiles, starting with one of herself and
followed by the one mentioned earlier in this
newsletter on our President Vicky Jones. Also the
persons attending were asked to fill out a small
questionnaire for future information to help Deb
create profiles eventually on all members.
On Tuesday, December 17th we held our Annual
Christmas party at the 285 Legion on Horton Rd SW.
We had some 55 members and guests present, had a
great buffet meal served and according to the praise I
heard enjoyed by all. The MC’s job was shared by
Vicky and Gary who were also assisted by Vicky’s
granddaughter Nikki who also sang Jingle Bells to us.
We were looked after musically by a couple of
musicians, a husband and wife team called the Craig
West Duo. Craig was born blind but managed to
obtain a Master’s Degree in Music from the U of C.
He plays several instruments, sings and is
accompanied by his wife Angie on the piano. “Great
music and great couple!”
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
I hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas party. I
thought it was a great success. The weather appears
to be going to co-operate fully this Christmas, very
mild but still with snow on the ground. At this time we
have two members currently in hospital, Bert Jarrett
in the Foothills and John Cooper in the Fanning
Centre. Both have unfortunately suffered another
stroke as if one weren’t enough. Our prayers are with
them as they begin once again this grueling journey
through stroke recovery. I can only imagine having
been through it twice myself that the older one gets,
the more difficult the rehab and subsequently the
more delayed the positive results.
As the end of the year draws near, I would like once
again to remind everyone of the dedication and
selflessness of the Caregivers. Maybe it seems even
more evident to me as my dad has been full time
caregiver for the dear woman formerly known as
“mom” for the past 10 years as she has slipped
further and further into the depths of Alzheimer’s
Disease. I see what he goes through on a daily,
weekly, monthly and yearly basis and I am always
amazed at his resolve. As they approach their 62nd
wedding anniversary and my mom’s 78 birthday,
having been married since my mom was 16, he very
lovingly and patiently cares for her even as she
regularly asks him when “her Ken is coming home?”
(She thinks it is 1959 and her Ken couldn’t possibly be
this aged man sitting across from her). She thinks her
5 children are all still small and is constantly looking
for them, even though 3 have since passed on. We
have many caregivers in our midst who are totally as
dedicated and devoted to their own partners,
children, siblings or parents. I also ponder their daily
lives in amazement and wonder “where on earth
would all of these deserving survivors be without the
love and care of these courageous, selfless people
who now dedicate their lives to the care and recovery
of their loved ones”? Long term care in some cases I
have no doubt. And in the most severe cases, what of
these caregivers lives when the recipient passes on?
By the time this occurs, often the caregiver has lost
touch with much of their own life. Many friends tend
to pull back through much of the caregiving process
and may or may not be there in the end. I am
assuming “may not” may be the norm. What will my
dad do when he no longer has my mom to look after?
How will he then fill his days? I guess in most cases
this will never be known until the inevitable occurs.
Therein lies the dilemma. In some cases when the
disease is so severe or there is little quality of life left,
you sure don’t want to see your loved ones suffer but
you don’t want to let them go either. Jim Patterson
was faced with this daily over several years as he
watched his dear wife Vi, deteriorate ever so slowly
after suffering 9 strokes over 13 years. Although she
only passed away 2 years ago in February, she was on
life support for nearly 3 years before that. It was after
her first 2 strokes though that she needed constant
caregiving as her short term memory was affected.
Within our group we have as many examples of
exemplary caregivers as we have stroke survivors. In
my opinion anyway it is the survivors with the
cognitive issues that would cause the most challenges
on a day to day basis to the caregiver. In my opinion
as well, Asphasia would hold the most challenges for
the survivor. As Stroke Survivors we know better than
anyone that you must live each day to the fullest and
celebrate our victories, no matter how small. I know 3
things for sure. I miss my mom every day as we were
very close. Alzheimer’s is a very long grieving period
and my dad doubles very well as a mom…my mom.
There is a special place in Heaven for Caregivers and
we need say thanks for them every single day!
Did You Know
August has the highest percentage of deaths.
M & M chocolates stand for the initials of the
Inventors, Mars & Murrie .
Pop corn was invented by the Aztec Indians in the
1500s.
The average person falls asleep in 7 minutes.
Unless food is mixed with saliva you can’t taste it.
AGM.
On January 21st at Good Companions Club
situated at 2609 19th Ave SW. Our Annual
General Meeting will be held at approximately
7pm. Pre vented by our Annual “Pot Luck
Supper”, this is at 6 pm, any Traditional or
Exotic food will be equally acceptable, for
members with little or no culinary leanings
there is usually plenty for all. Book Transport
home 9pm to 9 30 pm.
Little reminder for our meetings at Canadian
legion establishments throughout the year.
Donations of non-perishable foods are always
welcomed by “The Veterans Food Bank”.
Have a great Recovery and safe New Year,
From Jim Patterson,
Newsletter Editor.
l
Need some Jewellery for a loved one or yourself call and see a Jeweler
who supports the SRAC yearly by contributing lovely door prizes for our
Christmas Party and looks after our personal jewellery needs with
expertise and a great deal of knowledge and personal service. See
“Ralph” at
“Fleetwood Jewellery” 8500 Macleod Trail South 100 Heritage Square
on Macleod Trail South next to Co-op. Phone Number # 403 252 8850.
Need an old clock repairing,
Then call.
Rudi Oggier
At Tic Toc
Clock shop
403 460 4273
Get free quote
Agree to price
Get clock fixed
Free pick up and
Delivery.
ou can also research articles or find “filler” articles by accessing the World Wide Web.
S.R.A.C.
Stroke Recovery Association of
Calgary.
PO Box 5051station A
Calgary AB.
T2H1X1
Treasurer Larry Jarret
President Vicky Jones
Vice President Gary McVeigh
Asst to Gary, Enid McVeigh.
403 827 7520